Seeding mechanism for corn-planters.



PATEN-TED MAY 5; 190a. B R-we: SEBDING MEGHANISMTOR CORN PLANTERS..'

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19. 1903.

4 SHEETS-$1123! .1.

I0 noun.

No. 726,849. PATENTED'MAY 5. 1908.

J. B. BBRING.

SEEDIN G MECHANISM FOR CORN PLANTERS APPLIOATIOR rrnnn JAN. 19, 1903. no menu. 4 sums-sum 2.

Z i ngn A No. 726,849. PATENTED MAY'5, 1903-.

J. E. BERING.

SBEDING MECHANISM FOR CORN PLANTERS. APPLICATION FILE]? JAN. 19. 1903.

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PAIENTED MAY 5; 1903.

J. E. mma. SEEDING MEGHANISM FOR 001m PLANTBRS.

APPLICATION IILBD JAN. 19' 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

10 MODEL.

UNiTE I STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

JAMES E. BERING, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO CHAMBERS BERING QUI NLAN COMPANY, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF ILLINOIS.

SEEDING MECHANISM FOR CORN'-PLANTERS.

srncrnroarron forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,849, dated May 5, 1903.

' Application filed January 19,1903. Serial No. 139,5 72. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES E. BERING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Decatur, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seeding Mechanism for Corn- Planters, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accom panying drawings.

My invention relates to seeding devices for corn-planters, and particularly to that class of planters in which the seed-plate is rotated by suitable connections with the rear wheel or wheels of the planter.

More particularly still,iny invention relates to that class of planters in which by suitable clutch members the seed-plate may be given a definite partial rotation with each throw of the check-rower devices by means of connection with one of the rear wheels or with the axle of the rear wheels of the planter. Generally speaking, such planters are provided with two clutch members, one of which is loosely sleeved on a shaft which isgeared with the seed-plateand being rotatable on said shaft is driven continuously from the wheels and operates to give to the seed-plate a partial rotation only when the clntch members are thrown into engagement. The other clutch member in such mechanism is adapted by various means to be thrown into engagement with the clutch member sleeved on the shaft with each throw of the check-rower mechanism, so as to cause a definite partial rotation of the seed-plate. These devices,

generally speaking, have been so constructed that as the clutch members rotate they are forced apart by devices operated by their engaged rotation, so as to be disengaged at the end of each single revolution and held out of operative engagement until they are again thrown into engagement or permitted to come into engagement by the next throw of the check-rower mechanism. Being forced apart by means operated directly or indirectly by their engaged rotation, a complete separation of the two clutch members, so that they are actually separated from one another so as to be some distance apart, has not been effected. The result is that the teeth of the clutch members bear against one another in frictional contact not sufficient to cause rotation of the second clutch member and of the seeding mechanism, but snfficient to cause a considerable and very objectionable wearing of the teeth or engagingport-ions of the clutch anembers.

It is the principal object of my invention to providea clutch mechanism the two members of which may be forced and held apart at the end of their work, so as to be actually separated by a distance from one another in order to prevent this friction and wearing away of the parts; and, broadly speaking, I

accomplish this object by'means independent of the clutch members themselves and of their engagement to effect and complete the entire separation of the two members from one another.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top or plan view of portions of a corn-planter, showing my new and improved mechanism. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of a portion of the front frame, showing the clutch members partially separated. Fig. 3 is atop or plan view of the same parts, showing the clutch members entirely separated. Fig. 4 is a top or plan View of the same parts, showing the forked lever of the check-row mechanism thrown to permit the engagement of the clutch members.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail, being a view of the sliding bar and cam by means of which the disengagement of the clutch members is caused. Fig. (5 is an enlarged detail, being anend view of the same. Fig. 7 is a detail, being asection on line 7 7 of Fig. 4; and Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are sections on line 8 80f Fig. 2, showing the parts in three successive positions.

Referring to the drawings, 11 indicates the front frame of a corn-planter.

12 indicates the wheel-axle of therear frame,

and 13 one of the carrying-wheels mounted thereon.

14 indicates a sprocket-wheel secured to the axle 12. I

indicates a seedbox provided with aseedplate 16, which may be of any approved form and construction.

17 indicates a shaft which is journaled in the front frame 11 and is connected with the seed-plate 16 by bevel-gears operating in any well-known and approved way to rotate the said seed-plate when the said shaft 1'7 is rotated, as hereinafter described.

18 indicates a rock-shaftwhich is journaled in the front frame 11.

19 indicates a forked leve'r of any wellknown and approved form, which is connected with the rock-shaft 18 and operates in the well-known manner to rock the same by means of the usual knotted wire or rope. (Not shown.)

20 indicates a spring which is connected with the front frame 11 and with the rockshaft 18 and operates to normally hold the parts in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

21 indicates a sleeve which is journaled upon the shaft 17 and is provided with a sprocket-wheel 22, preferably formed integral therewith.

23 indicates a sprocket-chain which connects the sprocket-wheels 14 and 22 and operates to rotate the sprocket-wheel 22 and the sleeve 21 when the planter is driven forward.

24 indicates a clutch member which is carried by and preferably formed integral with the sleeve 21.

25 indicates a sleeve which is slidingly mounted upon the shaft 17 and rotated therewith.

26 (see Figs. 2 and 3) indicates a slot in the sleeve 25.

27 indicates a pin which passes through the slot 26 into the shaft 17, thus permitting the sleeve 25 to have a limited longitudinal movement on the shaft 17, but so uniting the two that they rot-ate together.

28 indicates a second clutch member which is secured to the sleeve 25 and may be formed integral therewith and which is adapted to engage with the clutch member 24.

29 indicates 2. lug on the sleeve 25. 30 indicates a cam on the sleeve 25. Both the lug 29 and the cam 30 are preferably formed integral with the sleeve 25.

31 indicates a spiral spring which bears at one end upon a shoulder 32, secured to the shaft 17, and at the other end upon the inner end of the sleeve 25, and tends by its tension to normally hold the clutch members 24 and 28 in engagement, as shown in Fig. 1.

33 indicates a slide-bar which is slidingly mounted in a suitable support 34, secured to a cross-bar 35 on the frame 11. The slidebar 33 is provided at its rear end with a notch 36 and at its front end with a cam-surface 37, at the lower end of which is a projection 38.

39 indicates a lug which is secured to the rock-shaft 18 and is adapted to engagewith the notch or recess 36 on the slide-bar 33 in such a way that when the forked lever is thrown backward into the position shown in Fig. 4 the slide-bar 33 will be retracted into the position shown in that figure. As soon as the forked lever is released, the spring 20 immediately rocks the shaft 18 back toits original position, throwing the slide-bar 33 forward, in which position it remains until the next throw of the forked lever 19. The lug 29 is adapted when the sleeve 25 is rotated by the engagement of the clutch members 24 and 28 to bear upon the cam-surface 37 on the slidebar 33 and force the sleeve 25 to the left, in

the several plan views, against the spring 31 and gradually disengage the clutch members in the manner hereinafter described.

40 indicates a slide-bar which is slidingly mounted in a sleeve 41, which is secured to the cross-bar 35. spring which is mounted in the sleeve 41 and 42 (see Figs. 7 to 10) indicates a spiral bears against the slide-bar 40 in such a way as to normally force the said slide-bar outward. The spring is of sufficient tension to cause a partial rotation of the sleeve 25 and urge it still farther to the left against the spring 31 in the manner hereinafter de scribed. The slide-bar 40 is provided at its forward end with a head 43, adapted to bear against the cam 30, and having at its lower portion a beveled surface 44, which slopes downward and backward, as shown in Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive.

The operation of the mechanism hereinabove described is as follows: The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1-that is to say, with the clutch members in engagement-as the corn-planter is driven forward the sleeve 21 is rotated by means of the sprocket-chain 23 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. The engagement of the two clutch members causes the rotation in the same direction of the sleeve 25, and consequently the rotation of the shaft 17, which causes a partial rotation of the seedplate 16. The extent of rotation given to the seed-plate by one rotation of the shaft 17 may, of course, be appropriately varied. Generally the parts are so geared as to give to the seed-plate a quarter-rotation for each rotation of the shaft 17, thus causing the dropping of three or four grains of corn, according to the number of seed-cups in the seed-plate, through the usual seed-dropping devices to the ground. As the sleeve 25 rotates the lug 29 bears upon the cam-surface 37 of the slidebar 33,and, the rotation continuing, the sleeve 25 is forced inwardly, or to the left as shown in Fig. 1, by the bearing of the lug 29 upon the cam 37, so as to gradually separate the clutch members. The parts are so adjusted that the clutch members are separated from one another at the end of a single rotation. Meanwhile the cam 30 has been brought to bear upon the head 43 of the slide-bar 40, forcing the same backward against the action of the spring 42. The parts are also so adjusted that just at the end of a single rotation of the clutch members, and consequently of the .shaft 17, the end of the cam reaches the beveled portion 44 on the head 43 of the slide-bar 40, whereupon the spring 42, tending constantly to force the slidebar 40 forward by the action of the beveled portion 44 upon the end of the cam 30, forces the sleeve 25 still farther around, causing a partial additional rotation thereof, and the lug 29 still bearing upon the cam-surface 37 the sleeve 25 is thereby forced still farther inwardly, completely disengaging the clutch members and separating them from one another a slight distance, so that the continual rotation of the sleeve 21 and clutch member 24 will not cause the teeth of the clutch member to bear upon and wear the corresponding teeth of the second clutch. The respective actions of the beveled head of the slide-bar 40 and the cam 30 upon each other are illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, which show the parts in three of the positions above described. The projection 38 on the slide-bar 33 acts as a stop to prevent the further rotation of the sleeve 25, and the lug 29 being held, therefore, in. engagement with the cam-surface 37 the parts are held apart until the next throw of the check-rower mechanism. When the forked lever is again moved backward into the position shown in Fig. 4 by the operation of a check-rower wire or cord, the slide-bar 33 is retracted, as above described, freeing the lug 29 from its engagement and permitting the clutch members to be immediately thrown into engagement with each other again by the operation of the spring 31.

That which Iclaim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a planter,the combination with checkrower mechanism,a clutch member,and means for rotating the same, of asecond clutch member adapted to be automatically thrown into engagement with said first clutch member by the operation of the check-rower mechanism, means operated by the rotation of said clutch members for separating the same, and means for further rotating one of saidelutch members independently of the other to further separate said clutch members at the end of their engaged rotation, substantially as described.

2. In a planter, the combination with checkrower mechanism,aclutch member,and means for rotating the same, of a second clutch member adapted to be automatically thrown into engagement with said first clutch member at each throw of the check-rower mechanism,

' means for gradually disengaging said clutch membersduring their engaged rotation, and means independent of said clutch members adapted to completely separate the same at the end of their rotation, substantially as described.

3. In a planter, the combination with checkrower mechanism, a seed-plate, a clutch member, and means for rotating said clutch-member, of a second clutch member adapted to be automatically thrown into engagement with said first clutch member at each throw of the check-rower mechanism to operate said seedplate, means operated by the rotation of said engaged clutch members to gradually disengage the same during their rotation, and means independent of said clutch members adapted to completely separate the same at the end of theirrotation, substantially as described.

4. In aplanter, the combination with aseedplate, a shaft geared therewith, and checkrower mechanism, of a clutch member journaled on said shaft, means for rotating the same, a second clutch member mounted on said shaft, rotatable therewith and adapted to be automatically thrown into engagement with said first clutch member with each throw of the check-rower mechanism, means adapt ed to gradually disengage said clutch members during their rotation, and means independent of said clutch members adapted to completely separate said clutch members at the end of their rotation,.substantially'as de scribed.

.5. In a planter, the combination with checkrower mechanism,a clutch member,and means for rotating the same, of asecond clutch member adapted to be automatically thrown into engagement with said firstclntch member by i the operation of the check-rowermechanism,

a cam connected with said second clutch member, and spring-actuated mechanism adapted to bear on said cam for imparting to said clutch member a further rotation, to completely separate said clutch members, substantially as described.

6. In a planter, the combination with aseedplate, a shaft geared thereto, and checkrower mechanism, of a clutch member journaled on said shaft, means for rotating said clutch member, a second clutch member slidingly mounted on said shaft, rotatable therewith and normally held in yielding engagement with said first clutch member, a cam adapted to bear on said second clutch member to separate said members when they are rotated and to be disengaged from said second member at each throw of the check-rower mechanism, and means independent of said clutch mechanism adapted to impart to said second clutch member a further rotation against said cam at the end of the engaged rotation of said clutch members and to further separate said clutch members, substantially as described.

7. In a planter, the combination with a seedplate, a shaft geared thereto, and check-rower mechanism, of a clutch member journaled on said shaft, means for rotating said clutch member, a second clutch member slidingly mounted on said shaft, rotatable therewith and normally held in yielding engagement with said first clutch member, a cam adapted to bear on said second clutch member and gradually force said members apart when they are rotated and to hold them apart when completely separated, and to be disengaged from said second member at each throw of the check-rower mechanism, and means independent of said clutch mechanism adapted to impart to said second clutch member an additional partial rotation against said cam at the end of the engaged rotation of said clutch members, and to completely separate said clutch members, substantially as described.

8. In aplanter, the combination with aseedplate, a shaft geared thereto, and check-rower mechanism, of a clutch member journaled on said shaft, means for rotating said clutch member, a second clutch member slidingly mounted on said shaft, rotatable therewith and normally held in yielding engagement with said first clutch member, a cam adapted to bear on said second clutch member and gradually force said members apart when they are rotated and to hold them apart when completely separated and to be disengaged from said second member at each throw of the check-rower mechanism, a cam on said second clutch member, a longitudinally-mow able spring-seated bar adapted to bear on the cam on said clutch member as the same is rotated and to be forced backward thereby, and adapted at the end of the rotation of said clutch members to cause a partial additional rotation of said second clutch member and to completely separate said clutch members, substantially as described.

9. Inaplanter, the combination with aseedplate, a shaft geared thereto, and check-r0 we r mechanism, of a clutch member journaled on said shaft, means for rotating said clutch member, a second clutch member slidingly mounted on said shaft, rotatable therewith and normally held in yielding engagement with said first clutch member, a cam adapted to bear on said second clutch member and gradually force said members apart when they are rotated and to hold them apart when completely separated, and to be disengaged from said second member at each throw of the check-rower mechanism, a cam on said second clutch member, a longitudinally-movable spring-seated bar having a head with a beveled surface, adapted to bear against said cam on said second clutch member as the same is rotated and to be forced back thereby, and adapted when the cam on said clutch member reaches said beveled surface to force a partial additional rotation of said second clutch member and by the bearing of said second clutch member on said first-mentioned cam to completely separate said clutch members from one another, substantially as described.

JAMES E. SEEING. Witnesses:

J. FRANK DAVIS, W. M. BERING. 

